So What Chord Progression (i7 bii7)
The So What shift is the chord progression i7-bii7. In the key of C minor it is Cm7 Dbm7, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1m(7) b2m(7).
It is also known as Dorian half-step shift.
Chords from outside the key of C minor: Dbm7.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
A whole section in Dorian on one chord moves up a half step to the same mode on the next root, then back. Nothing functions as a cadence: the sudden move itself is the only harmonic event. It is the defining form of modal jazz, used as a large form across 32 bars rather than as a loop.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| So What | Miles Davis | AABA form, B section | Dm7 Ebm7 | D minor |
| Impressions | John Coltrane | AABA form, B section | Dm7 Ebm7 | D minor |
So What Chord Progression: Chords and Audio in C, G, D, A and E
Press play to hear each key. The diagrams show the shapes used in the audio, and every chord links to its full page.
More progressions like this one
- Dorian shuttle: Cm F
- Dorian i-bVII-IV: Cm Bb F
- Minor i-bIII-IV: Cm Eb F
- Dorian i-bIII-bVII-IV: Cm Eb Bb F
All guitar chord progressions →
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the So What shift in each key?
In C minor: Cm7 Dbm7. In G minor: Gm7 Abm7. In D minor: Dm7 Ebm7. In A minor: Am7 Bbm7. In E minor: Em7 Fm7.
Which songs use the So What shift?
Songs that use it include So What by Miles Davis, Impressions by John Coltrane.
